Alan Bennet, Erik Bengtson, Mismonsta: Art Opening, Jan 30th
Alan Bennet
I was influenced by science-fiction movies and television of the late 60s and early 70s. With a natural gift for drawing, comic book illustration was another way for me to express my interest in the genre. I lived my formative years in Eugene, Oregon, and then I moved to Washington State to study graphic design at the Art Institute Seattle, where I learned many new artistic techniques.
I ventured into self-publishing comic books, in particular, from 1998 to 2014. After that, I moved to Portland, Oregon, in 2007 and branched out further with my artistic illustration using a scratchboard. This is a medium that I discovered my passion with. But many people often ask, “What is scratchboard?” This is the description of the medium; scratch·board ˈskrach-ˌbȯrd : a black-surfaced cardboard (masonite) having an undercoat of white clay on which an effect resembling engraving is achieved by scratching away portions of the surface to produce white lines. Several tools, such as a variety of xacto knives, steel wool, ink, and marker pens, create the effects depicted.
With this drive and love of the medium, others began to take notice as I garnered several commissions from small local music bands for designing album covers and T-shirt designs. This evolved into showcasing my scratchboard work in several group shows and separate family solo pieces.
Erik Bengtson
grew up in Minnesota, always playing in the forest, getting dirty, hanging out in weird alleyways and loading docks, usually riding useless wooden toys. With an unquenchable curiosity always present, he was often exploring, both the rural and urban realms. Eventually he discovered photography, and with it, the ability to create, manipulate, and capture photons. Not only did this magic wand of space and time allow him to put three-dimensional objects into a two-dimensional plane where he could share ideas, it also allowed him to play with the fourth dimension of time in a way he never knew was possible. This gift transformed the way that he experienced and interpreted the universe. Erik’s images are representative of his interactions and relationships with the world and are intended to encourage the imagination, and challenge the boundaries we set for ourselves. Still using traditional 35 mm film, he often creates multiple exposure images inside the camera, without the use of any photo editing software. Using digital photography and star tracking and star stacking tools, he also creates images of the cosmos beyond our home planet. Participation in the artwork is strongly encouraged, so feel free to author your own stories about the things you see. Erik Bengtson lives and works in Portland, Oregon.
Mismonsta (Elena Fowler)
“I originally come from San Diego, a place I was grateful to grow up, but I have called Portland my home for almost a decade and a half. My little Goth heart will always miss being so close to the beach and that salty air, but NOT so close to the sun. The sheer audacity of 80 in December is unforgivable. I’ll always be grateful for the flora, fauna, seasons, and clouds of the Pacific Northwest. How did I get here you may ask yourself? I moved to Portland attend Oregon College of Art and Craft (RIP) where I received my BFA with a focus in Book Arts and Drawing and Painting. After graduating, I learned my passion lies with the latter and have been full steam ahead painting and sketching. My preferred mediums to work in are watercolor, ink, and acrylics, seconded by illustrating in Procreate. It’s hard to pinpoint a particular style though I’m forever in love with skulls and bones (sup inner Goth kid), ocean creatures- both fictional and non (hi San Diego!), comics, comedy, and pop culture. I love to embrace the chaos when choosing subject matter and always try and create what makes me happy. I hope my little creations make you happy too. Fun bonus fact! I also am a professional performer (bellydance and cabaret). When I’m not slaughtering my back hunched over a painting at home or my iPad, I am on stage dancing and regretting not getting up and stretching more often when I paint.”
Starts on: 01/30/2025
Ends: 02/24/2025